6. Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0)
Cincinnati wasn’t going to lose to SMU.
That’s not just 20/20 hindsight – we called that all last week.
It was Senior Day, the team appeared to be fed up with getting dogged for mediocre performances against awful teams, and …
SMU isn’t all that good, either.
Don’t let the record fool you. Oh sure, there was a win at TCU, but it lost to Houston in a shootout, needed a thrilling game to get by an awful Louisiana Tech, and it lost to a mediocre Memphis.
But whatever, we asked for Cincinnati to start looking the part, and it sure did that in the 48-14 win on Saturday that wasn’t even that close.
Now, the call is that everything will work out and the Bearcats will get in, but 1) it wouldn’t be the slightest bit stunning if they lost at East Carolina, 2) it wouldn’t be the slightest bit stunning if they lost to Houston in the American Athletic Conference final, and 3) they’re probably out if Alabama and Georgia go 12-1 and if the Big Ten and Big 12 champions are 12-1.
There’s also the chance that the committee goes with 11-2 Alabama over a 13-0 Cincinnati, too.
5. Michigan Wolverines (11-1)
Michigan is here over Cincinnati and Notre Dame because it controls its own destiny.
It needed Michigan State to be out of the way, and Ohio State more than took care of that.
Beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten Championship over Wisconsin or Iowa, and it’s – almost certainly – off to Arlington, Texas and the College Football Playoff in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
It’s a sound team with the lines, the toughness, and the running game to do what Michigan State couldn’t – at least when it comes to not getting blown out – but …
You think Michigan is beating Ohio State? that’s why it’s No. 5.